Arrangement and method for the channel-selective reception of a signal taking account of a time-dependent occurrence of a final range of a signal section of the signal

ABSTRACT

In an arrangement ( 1 ) for processing a signal (S) which has successive signal sections (SP), wherein each signal section (SP) comprises a useful information item (UI) and an additional information item (AI) and wherein a time-dependent occurrence of a final range (EA) of a signal section (SP) can be determined with the aid of the additional information item (AI) of this signal section (SP), there are provided channel selection means ( 6 ) which can be used to temporally successively select at least two channels (C 1,  C 2,  C 3 ) and, using the additional information item (AI) in accordance with the selected channel (C 1,  C 2,  C 3 ), to determine the time-dependent occurrence of the respective final range (EA), and, following the determination of the time-dependent occurrence of the respective final ranges (EA) of the signal sections (SP) in at least two channels (C 1,  C 2,  C 3 ), to select that channel (C 1,  C 2,  C 3 ) in which the signal section (SP) with the temporally next final range (EA) occurs.

The invention relates to an arrangement for processing a signal whichhas successive signal sections, wherein each signal section comprises auseful information item and an additional information item and wherein atime-dependent occurrence of a final range of a signal section can bedetermined with the aid of the additional information item of thissignal section.

The invention furthermore relates to a channel selection method forselecting a channel, via which channel a signal which has successivesignal sections can be received, wherein each signal section comprises auseful information item and an additional information item and wherein atime-dependent occurrence of a final range of a signal section can bedetermined with the aid of the additional information item of thissignal section.

An arrangement of the type mentioned in the first paragraph, by means ofwhich the method of the type mentioned in the second paragraph can becarried out, is commercially available from the Applicant under the name“Streamium” with the type designation MC-i200, and is therefore known.

The known arrangement is what is referred to as an Internet radiodevice, which can be used to receive a signal in the form of a real-timedata stream via the Internet. A signal of this type is sent out in eachcase via one channel from a large number of transmitting stations, sothat the respective signal can be received simultaneously by a number ofknown arrangements. The signal has signal sections, wherein each signalsection has a useful information item—specifically, for example, a pieceof music—and an additional information item—specifically what arereferred to as metadata. The metadata are provided for characterizingthe individual signal sections with regard to their content and withregard to their time-dependent transmission status, wherein thetransmission status indicates for example a signal section duration thathas already elapsed or a remaining signal section duration and/or anentire signal section duration. The arrangement has receiving meanswhich are designed for the channel-selective reception of the signaltaking account of a channel selection information item which can be setby a user of the arrangement. Furthermore, the arrangement hasadditional information item extraction means which are designed toextract the additional information item from the respective signalsection of the received signal. The known arrangement is furthermoredesigned to visually display the extracted additional information item,in order to inform the user about the content and the transmissionstatus, and to acoustically deliver the useful information item.

In the known arrangement, there is the problem that a search of thechannels for pieces of music whose transmission status indicates that itis approaching its final range in terms of time, in order not to miss astart of a temporally successive new piece of music, can only be carriedout manually by a user and also only in an extremely laborious mannerand with a relatively low hit rate because, on the one hand, the finalrange of a piece of music can be found with a high degree of probabilityonly very rarely in the case of manual selection of the channels andbecause, on the other hand, when one remains in a channel in order notto miss a start of the next piece of music in this channel there is therisk that an earlier start of a piece of music available in anotherchannel will necessarily be missed.

It is an object of the invention to overcome the abovementioned problemswith an arrangement of the type mentioned in the first paragraph andwith a method of the type mentioned in the second paragraph, and toprovide an improved arrangement and an improved method.

To achieve the abovementioned object, an arrangement according to theinvention is provided with features according to the invention, so thatan arrangement according to the invention can be characterized in themanner indicated below, namely:

Arrangement for processing a signal which has successive signalsections, wherein each signal section comprises a useful informationitem and an additional information item and wherein a time-dependentoccurrence of a final range of a signal section can be determined withthe aid of the additional information item of this signal section, whicharrangement has receiving means which are designed for thechannel-selective reception of the signal via the respectively selectedchannel, taking account of a channel selection information item whichcan be fed to it, and for the delivery of the received signal, and whicharrangement has additional information item extraction means which aredesigned to extract the additional information item from the receivedsignal of the respectively selected channel and to deliver therespectively extracted additional information item, and whicharrangement has channel selection means which are designed

a) to generate at least two channel selection information items for theselection of at least two channels, and

b) to temporally successively deliver the at least two channel selectioninformation items to the receiving means, and

c) to receive the additional information item respectively extracted anddelivered by means of the additional information item extraction meansin accordance with the respectively selected channel, and

d) using the additional information item respectively received inaccordance with the respectively selected channel, to determine thetime-dependent occurrence of the respective final range, and

e) following the determination of the time-dependent occurrence of therespective final ranges of the signal sections in at least two channels,to generate and deliver that channel selection information item whichcan be used to select that channel in which the signal section with thetemporally next final range occurs.

To achieve the abovementioned object, a channel selection methodaccording to the invention is provided with features according to theinvention, so that a channel selection method according to the inventioncan be characterized in the manner indicated below, namely:

Channel selection method for selecting a channel, via which channel asignal which has successive signal sections can be received, whereineach signal section comprises a useful information item and anadditional information item and wherein a time-dependent occurrence of afinal range of a signal section can be determined with the aid of theadditional information item of this signal section,

wherein the signal is received in a channel-selective manner via therespectively selected channel with the aid of receiving means, takingaccount of a channel selection information item which can be fed tothem, and the received signal is delivered by the receiving means, and

wherein the additional information item is extracted from the receivedsignal of the respectively selected channel with the aid of additionalinformation item extraction means and is delivered by the additionalinformation item extraction means, and

wherein channel selection means are used

a) to generate at least two channel selection information items for theselection of at least two channels, and

b) to temporally successively deliver the at least two channel selectioninformation items to the receiving means, and

c) to receive the additional information item respectively extracted anddelivered by means of the additional information item extraction meansin accordance with the respectively selected channel, and

d) using the additional information item respectively received inaccordance with the respectively selected channel, to determine thetime-dependent occurrence of the respective final range, and

e) following the determination of the time-dependent occurrence of therespective final ranges of the signal sections in at least two channels,to generate and deliver that channel selection information item whichcan be used to select that channel in which the signal section with thetemporally next final range occurs.

By providing the measures according to the invention, the advantage isobtained that, without any manual intervention by a user of thearrangement, the arrangement automatically precisely selects thatchannel in which a signal section, such as a piece of music or a videofilm for example, newly begins at the earliest possible point in time.This ensures that a user searching for a specific piece of music or aspecific video film has the opportunity at any time to follow this newlybeginning piece of music or this newly beginning video film in full ifthe content of the piece of music or of the video film corresponds towhat he wants. This also ensures that a user has the opportunity at anytime, from the start of the piece of music or of the video film, tocheck the content found by the additional information item in order toascertain whether the content corresponds to what he wants. As a result,the advantage is furthermore obtained that a piece of music or a videofilm that is newly beginning in a channel that is not selected at thatmoment in time cannot be missed by a user.

A solution according to the invention may be characterized for examplein that the channel in which the temporally next final range occurs isselected so long before the final range that a transition betweenadjacent signal sections can be considerably perceived by a user of thearrangement. Furthermore, it may be characterized in that the relevantchannel is selected so long after the final range that the signalsection occurring after the final range is available to the user onlyonce the useful information item of the new signal section following thefinal range has a meaningful content, as is the case for example after astart leader or an advertisement played in at the start of the newsignal section or after a fade-over phase between the two temporallyadjacent signal sections. However, it has proven to be particularlyadvantageous when the features as claimed in claim 2 and claim 8 areadditionally provided. As a result, the advantage is obtained that thecontent of the signal section following the preceding signal section ina channel, which content is available by means of the additionalinformation item, is available as early as possible, and specificallyeven when the content of the useful information item of the signalsection following the preceding signal section cannot yet be seen by auser, because in the time domain around the final range of the precedingsignal section the useful information item of this signal section isfaded out and at the same time the useful information item of thefollowing signal section is faded in, as is customary for example in thecase of a fade-over of two temporally adjacent pieces of music, since inthe case of such a fade-over both signal sections are temporarilyavailable at the same time during the final range of the precedingsignal section.

A solution according to the invention may be characterized in that theadditional information item represents an entire signal section durationand an already elapsed signal section duration or an elapsed percentageof the entire signal section duration, and in that the channel selectionmeans are designed to process this additional information item.Furthermore, a solution according to the invention may be characterizedin that the additional information item delivers only the entire signalsection duration of the signal section available at a respective momentin time, and in that the channel selection means are designed todetermine the final range of the signal section while knowing the starttime of the signal section present at that moment in time and takingaccount of the entire signal section duration of the respective signalsection. However, it has proven to be particularly advantageous when thefeatures as claimed in claim 3 and claim 9 are additionally provided. Asa result, the advantage is obtained that the final range of the signalsection present at that moment in time in the selected channel can bedetermined without complicated calculations and without any signaltransmission problems, such as problems of transmission delays on therespective channel for example, having to be taken into account.

It has also proven to be advantageous in the case of a solutionaccording to the invention when the features as claimed in claim 4 andclaim 10 are additionally provided. As a result, the advantage isobtained that the parameters for a large number of channels can belogged and used at any point in time.

It has also proven to be advantageous in the case of a solutionaccording to the invention when the features as claimed in claim 5 andclaim 11 are additionally provided. As a result, the advantage isobtained that an allocation between parameters and channel datainformation items is obtained that is as flexible as possible, and thatthe available storage space can be used in an optimized manner withregard to the actual number of selected channels because no predefinedstorage occupancy is required.

It has also proven to be advantageous in the case of a solutionaccording to the invention when the features as claimed in claim 6 andclaim 12 are additionally provided. As a result, the advantage isobtained that, in addition to the selection, at a suitable point intime, of a channel in which a new signal section is beginning, a checkis automatically made as to whether the content of this newly beginningsignal section corresponds to what a user of the arrangement wants, andthat in this case the channel is made permanently available to the user.

The abovementioned aspects and further aspects of the invention emergefrom the example of an embodiment described below and are explained withreference to this example of an embodiment.

The invention will be further described with reference to an example ofan embodiment shown in the drawings to which, however, the invention isnot restricted.

FIG. 1 shows schematically, in the form of a block diagram, anarrangement according to an example of an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 shows, in the form of a table, a content of storage means of thearrangement according to FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows a flowchart relating to a channel selection methodaccording to an example of an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 shows, in the form of a diagram, a signal section sequence inthree channels, with the aid of which the functioning of the arrangementaccording to FIG. 1 and the method according to the flowchart of FIG. 2is explained.

FIG. 1 shows an arrangement 1 which forms an Internet radio and isdesigned to process a signal S. The signal S is formed by an Internetdata stream which is sent out via the Internet by an Internet radiostation on a channel allocated to the Internet radio station, so thatthe signal S can be received by a large number of arrangements 1 of thistype at the same time if they are connected to the Internet and aretuned to the respective channel. The signal S has successive signalsections SP, wherein each signal section SP has a useful informationitem UI—specifically, for example, a piece of music—and an additionalinformation item AI—specifically what are referred to as metadata. Themetadata are provided for characterizing the individual signal sectionsSP with regard to their content and with regard to their time-dependenttransmission status. The transmission status indicates a remainingresidual duration of the respective signal section SP, so that atime-dependent occurrence of a final range EA of the respective signalsection SP can be determined with the aid of the metadata of therespective signal section SP. The content of the useful information itemUI of a piece of music, which indicates the genre, the name and/or theperformer of the respective piece of music, is represented by a contentinformation item CI contained in the additional information item AI ofthe respective piece of music.

FIG. 4 shows the signal S and the time-dependent occurrence of thesignal sections SP in three channels C1 to C3 in the form of a diagram,wherein in the diagram the time t is plotted on the abscissa and thechannels CN are plotted on the ordinate and wherein a new signal sectionSP begins in the respective channel C1, C2 or C3 in each case atinstants T1 to T9. The individual signal sections SP can directly adjoinone another or be separated from one another in time by pauses orpartially overlap one another, as is the case when the fading-out of apiece of music is started before one of the instants Ti and thefading-out is not ended until after the respective instant Ti. In thetechnical jargon this is also referred to as the fading-over between twopieces of music.

For the purpose of receiving the signal S, provided by one of theInternet radio stations, via the respective channel C1, C2 or C3, thearrangement 1 has receiving means 2 which are designed to receive threechannel selection information items C1S, C2S and C3S, wherein the firstchannel C1 can be selected using the first channel selection informationitem C1S, the second channel C2 can be selected using the second channelselection information item C2S and the third channel C3 can be selectedusing the third channel selection information item C3S. The receivingmeans 2 are furthermore designed for the channel-selective reception ofthe signal S via the channel C1, C2 or C3 selected by the respectivechannel selection information item C1S, C2S or C3S, taking account ofthe channel selection information item C1S, C2S or C3S received orpresent in each case, and for delivering the received signal S.

The arrangement 1 furthermore has additional information item extractionmeans 3 which are designed to receive the signal S from the receivingmeans 2 and to extract the respective additional information item AIfrom the received signal S of the respectively selected channel C1, C2or C3. The additional information item extraction means 3 arefurthermore designed to deliver the respectively extracted additionalinformation item AI in the form of the content information item CI andin the form of a time information item TI, which represent the remainingsignal section duration of the respective signal section SP.

The arrangement 1 furthermore has comparison means 4 which are designedto receive a desired content information item WI that can be fed to thearrangement 1 by a user via a user interface not shown in FIG. 1, and toreceive the content information item CI. The comparison means 4 arefurthermore designed to compare the fed-in desired content informationitem WI with the content information item CI and to deliver a comparisoninformation item EI which indicates the correspondence between thecontent information item and the desired content information item WI.

The arrangement 1 furthermore has recording means 5 which are designedto receive the comparison information item EI from the comparison means4 and to receive the signal S from the receiving means 2. The recordingmeans 5 are furthermore designed to record the signal S in the form ofrecording data when the comparison information item EI is received. Thismakes it possible for the arrangement 1 to be used for content-selectiverecording. It should be mentioned that the recording means 5 may ofcourse also be designed to interact with the user interface andaccordingly also to record on a user-controlled basis. Furthermore, itshould be mentioned at this point that, in addition to the recordingmeans 5 or instead of the recording means 5, playback means may beprovided which may be designed for the content-selective playback of thereceived signal S in an acoustic or electrical manner.

The arrangement 1 furthermore has channel selection means 6 which aredesigned to receive the time information item TI and the comparisoninformation item EI. The channel selection means 6 are furthermoredesigned to generate the three channel selection information items C1S,C2S and C3S for the selection of the three channels C1, C2 and C3 and todeliver the three channel selection information items C1S, C2S and C3Sin temporal succession to the receiving means 2, so that the signal Scan be received in temporal succession for the respectively selectedchannel C1 or C2 or C3 with the aid of the receiving means and so thatthe additional information item AI present in the respectively selectedchannel C1 or C2 or C3 can be extracted from the signal section SP withthe aid of the additional information item extraction means 3, and thetime information item TI that can be obtained therefrom can be deliveredto the channel selection means 6. The channel selection means 6 arefurthermore designed to receive the time information item TI that can ineach case be extracted and delivered by the additional information itemextraction means 3 in accordance with the respectively selected channelC1, C2 or C3 and, using the time information item TI received in eachcase in accordance with the respectively selected channel C1, C2 or C3,which time information item TI indicates the remaining residual durationof the respective signal section SP represented with the aid of theadditional information item AI, to determine the time-dependentoccurrence of the respective final range EA.

The channel selection means 6 are furthermore designed, following thedetermination of the time-dependent occurrence of the respective finalranges EA of the signal sections SP in the three channels C1, C2 and C3,to generate and deliver that channel selection information item C1S orC2S or C3S which can be used to select that channel C1 or C2 or C3 inwhich the signal section SP with the temporally next final range EAoccurs. Specifically, the channel selection means 6 are designed toselect this channel C1, C2 or C3 in such a manner that this channel C1,C2 or C3 can be selected within a selection time domain SD of five (5)seconds within which the time-dependent occurrence of the next finalrange EA is located, wherein the selection in the present case takesplace such that the final range EA is located at the end of theselection time domain SD and such that the selection takes place at thestart of the selection time domain SD, because adjacent signal sectionsSP overlap one another for a maximum of about five (5) seconds withinthe channels C2 and C3. This has the advantage that the user canperceive the newly beginning signal section SP as early as possible, atleast acoustically, even when the additional information item of thepreceding signal section SP is still available at this point in time.However, it should be mentioned that the final range of the respectivesignal section SP may also be located at the start of the selection timedomain SD, although this is not explicitly illustrated in FIG. 4, andthat the selection may take place at the end of the selection timedomain. This has the advantage that the user is confronted with theacoustically perceptible content of the channel C1, C2 or C3 beingrespectively selected only once its additional information item AI isactually available. It should furthermore be mentioned that the finalrange EA may also be located around the middle of the selection domainSD and that the selection takes place in the middle of the selectiondomain SD. However, the provision of the selection domain SD, whichextends beyond the final range EA or is larger than the final range, mayalso be advantageous when, following the selection, a certain period oftime elapses before the signal S is actually received again, becausefirst of all a new connection to the respective transmitting station hasto be set up via the newly selected channel C1, C2 or C3 and it must bepossible for this period of time to be taken into account by theselection time domain SD such that the selection is made at such anearly point in time that, despite such delays, the start of the newlybeginning signal section SP is reliably not missed. In this connection,it should also be mentioned that the receiving means 2 may be designedfor the simultaneous reception of signals S via two channels during theselection time domain SD and that, although the selection of the newchannel has already taken place, the signal for the newly selectedchannel C1, C2 or C3 is delivered by the receiving means 2 only whenthere is a reliable—that is to say stable—connection to the respectivetransmitting station on this channel. It should furthermore be mentionedthat the channel selection means 6 may also be designed to adapt theperiod of time of the selection time domain SD as a function of whethera connection to the respective transmitting station is set up quickly orslowly, or whether a particularly slow or particularly fast fading-overbetween adjacent signal sections SP takes place within a channel C1, C2or C3 which is to be newly selected. Provision may also be made for thisadaptation to take place automatically by an analysis of the respectivesignal S or manually by the user. In this connection, a minimumselection time domain SD of one second is useful, because even theduration of the final range can rarely be indicated with an accuracybetter than one second. However, it should be mentioned that, dependingon the accuracy that is to be achieved in each case, a value less thanone second may also be provided, for example 0.5 sec or 0.2 sec.

The channel selection means 6 are furthermore designed, after thecomparison information item EI has been received, to retain the channelC1, C2 or C3 selected in accordance with the temporally next final rangeEA.

In order to implement the above-described function of the channelselection means 6, the channel selection means 6 have a time signalgeneration stage 7 and an information item evaluation stage 8 and astorage stage 9. The time signal generation stage 7 is designed forgenerating and for delivering a time signal TS at the information itemevaluation stage 8, wherein, following the explanations regarding theaccuracy of the final range, the time signal TS represents a secondsclock. The storage means 9 are provided for storing parameters CV1, CV2and CV3, wherein the parameters CV1, CV2 and CV3 are significant for thetime-dependent occurrence of the respective final range EA of the signalsections SP received via the selected channels C1, C2 and C3. Thestorage means 9 are furthermore provided for storing a channel datainformation item CD1, CD2 and CD3 which corresponds to the respectiveparameter CV1, CV2 and CV3. The information item evaluation stage 8 isdesigned to use the time signal TS to generate and to successivelydeliver the channel selection information items C1S, C2S and C3S and toreceive the time information item TI corresponding to the respectivelyselected channel C1, C2 or C3. The information item evaluation stage 8is furthermore designed to use the respective time information item TIto determine the respective parameter CV1, CV2 or CV3. The informationitem evaluation stage 8 is furthermore designed to deliver theparameters CV1 to CV3 and the channel data information items CD1 to CD3to the storage means 9. The information item evaluation stage 8 isfurthermore designed to evaluate the stored parameters CV1, CV2 or CV3as soon as at least two of the three parameters CV1 to CV3 areavailable, in order to establish which channel is the one in which thesignal section SP with the temporally next final range EA occurs. Theinformation item evaluation stage 8 is furthermore designed to select,five (5) seconds before the temporally next final range EA occurs, saiddetermined channel C1, C2 or C3 and to remain in this channel C1, C2 orC3 if the comparison information item EI is received for this selectedchannel C1, C2 or C3.

Hereinbelow, the mode of operation of the arrangement 1 will now beexplained with reference to an application example of the arrangement 1according to FIG. 1. According to this application example, it isassumed that a user enters a desired content information item WI in thearrangement 1 at the instant T0 plotted in FIG. 4, said desired contentinformation item WI indicating the piece of music “Like a Virgin” whichis sung by the artist “Madonna”. It is furthermore assumed that thispiece of music is available between the instants T7 and T8 in the thirdchannel C3, although the user of the arrangement 1 is not yet aware ofthis at the instant T0. It is furthermore assumed that at the instant T0the third channel C3 is received at the receiving means 2.

In order for it to be possible for this desired piece of music to befound without any intervention by the user, the arrangement 1 isdesigned to carry out a channel selection method in order to select oneof the channels C1, C2 or C3. The method is illustrated with the aid ofa flowchart shown in FIG. 3.

The method starts at a block 10, in which the arrangement 1 receives thedesired content information item WI input by the user and delivers it tothe channel selection means 6.

Thereafter, at a block 11, the three channel selection information itemsC1S, C2S and C3S are initially generated.

Subsequently, the three channel selection information items C1S, C2S andC3S are delivered in temporal succession to the receiving means 2,wherein firstly, at a block 12, the third channel selection informationitem C3S is delivered to the receiving means 2. At the block 12, thereceiving means 2 are furthermore used for the channel-selectivereception of the signal S via the third selected channel C3, takingaccount of the channel selection information item C3S fed to them, andfor delivering the signal S to the additional information itemextraction means 3.

At a block 13, the additional information item extraction means 3 areused to extract the additional information item from the received signalS and to deliver the time information item TI to the channel selectionmeans 6 which receives the time information item TI. At the same time,the additional information item extraction means 3 are used to deliverthe content information item CI to the comparison means 4, and saidcontent information item CI is compared with the desired contentinformation item WI at a block 14.

In the case where the comparison at the block 14 shows that the contentinformation item CI corresponds to the desired content information itemWI, the comparison means 4 are used to generate the comparisoninformation item EI which indicates that the content information item CIcorresponds to the desired content information item WI. Thereafter, thecomparison information item EI is delivered to the channel selectionmeans 6 and the method ends at a block 15, wherein the channel C3selected at that moment in time would be retained.

Since, however, shortly after the instant T0 in the present case thereis still no correspondence between the desired content information itemWI and the content information item CI, the method branches to a block16, in which, using the received time information item TI, the channelselection means 6 are used to determine the time-dependent occurrence ofthe respective final range EA for the signal section SP presentessentially before the instant T7, and the parameter CV3 correspondingthereto is delivered along with the channel data information item CD3 tothe storage means 9. The parameter CV3 and the channel data informationitem CD3 are stored using the storage means 9, wherein a first row L1 inthe table shown in FIG. 2 is generated. Furthermore, in accordance withthe method, at the block 16 after the first row L1 in the table has beengenerated, a channel selection information item which is different fromthe previously delivered channel selection information item CS3—in thepresent case CS1—is generated at will in temporal succession to thedelivery of the third channel selection information item CS3, and themethod continues at the block 13. However, since this branching onlytakes place at the start of the channel selection method after the fistrow L1 in the table has been generated, the connection between the block16 and the block 13 is illustrated in dashed line.

At the block 13, the time information item TI extracted and contained inthe signal section SP present before the instant T1 in accordance withthe first selected channel C1 is received by the channel selection means6 and, at the block 14, the correspondence between the contentinformation item CI and the desired content information item WI ischecked. Since again in the present case there is no correspondence forthe channel C1, at the block 16 a second row L2 in the table isgenerated and the parameter CV1 and the channel data information itemCD1 are noted.

In accordance with the method, following the determination of thetime-dependent occurrence of the respective final range EA of therespective signal section SP in the third channel C3 and in the firstchannel C1, the method branches to a block 17, in which a check is madeas to whether a temporally next final range EA for the respective signalsection SP will occur on one of the two channels C1 or C3 within thenext five (5) seconds of the selection time domain SD.

If this is not the case, as in the present case, then the methodbranches to a block 18, in which the channel selection means 6 deliverthe second channel selection information item C2S to the receiving means2. Thereafter, the method branches to the block 13, and the timeinformation item TI, delivered by the additional information itemextraction means 3, for the signal section SP present essentially beforethe instant T4 is received by the channel selection means 6. At theblock 14, the content information item CI for the currently presentsignal section SP of the second channel C2 is checked to see whether itcorresponds to the desired content information item WI, and again in thepresent case the method branches to the block 16 as there is nocorrespondence.

At the block 17, a check is again made, using the table, to see whetherthe final range EA of one of the signal sections SP will occur in one ofthe three channels C1 to C3 within the next five (5) seconds. If this isnot the case, the method branches to the block 18, and one of the threechannels is selected by random selection.

Thereafter, the channel selection method according to the blocks 13, 14,16, 17 and 18 will continue until, at the block 17, an occurrence of afinal range EA is detected within the selection time domain SD.

This situation is firstly seen in the region of the instant T4, so thatat the block 17 the method branches to a block 19. Since the signalsection SP in which the temporally next final range EA occurs is presentin the second channel C2, in accordance with the method, at the block19, the channel selection means are then used to generate the channelselection information item CS2 and deliver it to the receiving means.Thereafter, at a block 20, at least the start of the signal section SPfollowing the instant T4 is awaited, and the method branches to theblock 13 only once the additional information item for this newlybeginning signal section SP is available.

However, since there is also no correspondence between the desiredcontent information item WI and the content information item CI for thissignal section SP, the table is only amended in that the parameter CV2represents the final range EA of the signal section SP following theinstant T4, after which that part of the method comprising the blocks13, 14, 16, 17 and 18 is again continued until the final range EA of thesignal section SP present before the instant T1 in the first channeloccurs within the selection time domain SD, after which, at the block17, the method branches via the blocks 19 and 20 to the block 13, andsubsequently, for the signal section SP occurring after the instant T1,the content information item CI is checked for correspondence with thedesired content information item WI, wherein again for this signalsection SP in the present case no correspondence can be found.

In accordance with the prerequisite for this application example, such acorrespondence only occurs for the signal section SP, occurring afterthe instant T7, in the third channel C3, which is selected afterproceeding through the blocks 13, 14, 16, 17 and 18 a number of timesand finally branching to the blocks 19 and 20. The method then ends atthe block 15.

Accordingly, in the arrangement according to the invention, theadvantage is obtained that, although on a large number of channels C1,C2 or C3 there is no content information item CI extending beyond thecontent available at a given moment in time, nevertheless, without anyintervention by the user, firstly the new beginning of a piece of musicon one of the channels C1, C2 and C3 can practically not be missed andsecondly that channel C1, C2 or C3 on which the piece of music whichcorresponds to the desired content information item WI specified by theuser is present can be permanently selected in an automatic manner.

It should be mentioned that the arrangement 1 can also be designed forprocessing a signal S in which the useful information item UI of thesignal sections SP represents a video film. In this case, the contentinformation item CI can also contain or represent the name of a directoror of a producer or other details relating to the video film.

It should be mentioned that exclusive mention has been made above ofthree channels, but the person skilled in the art will of courseunderstand that practically any desired number of channels can betreated with the aid of the arrangement 1 according to the invention orwith the aid of the channel selection method according to the invention.

It should furthermore be mentioned that for example also a selectiontime domain SD of twenty (20) seconds may be provided, although this isrelatively long for a piece of music in relation to its overall durationand may therefore preferably be used in the case of a video film.

It should furthermore be mentioned that the channel selection methodaccording to which the method ends at the block 15 and the respectivepiece of music has been played back in full is started againautomatically. In this connection, provision may also be made for anumber of desired content information items WI to be input and for thevarious desired content information items WI to be dealt with insuccession.

1. An arrangement (1) for processing a signal (S) which has successivesignal sections (SP), wherein each signal section (SP) comprises auseful information item (UI) and an additional information item (AI) andwherein a time-dependent occurrence of a final range (EA) of a signalsection (SP) can be determined with the aid of the additionalinformation item (AI) of this signal section (SP), which arrangement (1)has receiving means (2) which are designed for the channel-selectivereception of the signal (S) via the respectively selected channel (C1,C2, C3), taking account of a channel selection information item (C1S,C2S, C3S) which can be fed to it, and for the delivery of the receivedsignal (S), and which arrangement (1) has additional information itemextraction means (3) which are designed to extract the respectiveadditional information item (AI) from the received signal (S) of therespectively selected channel (C1, C2, C3) and to deliver therespectively extracted additional information item (AI), and whicharrangement (1) has channel selection means (6) which are designed a) togenerate at least two channel selection information items (C1S, C2S,C3S) for the selection of at least two channels (C1, C2, C3), and b) totemporally successively deliver the at least two channel selectioninformation items (C1S, C2S, C3S) to the receiving means (2), and c) toreceive the additional information item (AI) respectively extracted anddelivered by means of the additional information item extraction means(3) in accordance with the respectively selected channel (C1, C2, C3),and d) using the additional information item (AI) respectively receivedin accordance with the respectively selected channel (C1, C2, C3), todetermine the time-dependent occurrence of the respective final range(EA), and e) following the determination of the time-dependentoccurrence of the respective final ranges of the signal sections (SP) inat least two channels (C1, C2, C3), to generate and deliver that channelselection information item (C1S, C2S, C3S) which can be used to selectthat channel (C1, C2, C3) in which the signal section (SP) with thetemporally next final range (EA) occurs.
 2. An arrangement (1) asclaimed in claim 1, wherein the channel selection means (6) are designedto select, within a selection time domain (SD) in which thetime-dependent occurrence of the temporally next final range (EA) islocated, the channel (C1, C2, C3) in which the signal section (SP) withthe temporally next final range (EA) occurs, and wherein the selectiontime domain (SD) has a duration of between twenty seconds and onesecond.
 3. An arrangement (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the channelselection means (6) are designed to use the additional information itemrepresenting a remaining residual duration of the respective signalsection (SP) to determine the time-dependent occurrence of the finalrange (EA) of the respective signal section (SP).
 4. An arrangement (1)as claimed in claim 1, wherein storage means (9), which interact withthe channel selection means (6), are provided for storing parameters(CV1, CV2, CV3), wherein the parameters (CV1, CV2, CV3) are significantfor the time-dependent occurrence of the respective final range (EA) ofthe signal sections (SP) received via each selected channel (C1, C2,C3).
 5. An arrangement (1) as claimed in claim 4, wherein the storagemeans (9) are provided for storing a channel data information item (CD1,CD2, CD3) which corresponds to the respective parameter (CV1, CV2, CV3),which channel data information item (CD1, CD2, CD3) is provided forindicating the respective channel (C1, C2, C3).
 6. An arrangement (1) asclaimed in claim 1, wherein comparison means (4) are provided, whichcomparison means are designed to compare a desired content informationitem (WI) that can be fed to the arrangement (1) with a contentinformation item (CI) that is contained in the additional informationitem (AI) of a signal section (SP) and that represents the content ofthe useful information item (UI) in the signal section (SP), and whichcomparison means are designed to deliver a comparison information item(EI) to the channel selection means (6), said comparison informationitem (EI) indicating the correspondence between the content informationitem (CI) and the desired content information item (WI), and wherein thechannel selection means (6) are designed, after the comparisoninformation item (EI) has been received, to retain the channel (C1, C2,C3) selected in accordance with the temporally next final range (EA). 7.A channel selection method for selecting a channel (C1, C2, C3), viawhich channel (C1, C2, C3) a signal which has successive signal sections(SP) can be received, wherein each signal section (SP) comprises auseful information item (UI) and an additional information item (AI) andwherein a time-dependent occurrence of a final range (EA) of a signalsection (SP) can be determined with the aid of the additionalinformation item (AI) of this signal section (SP), wherein the signal(S) is received in a channel-selective manner via the respectivelyselected channel (C1, C2, C3) with the aid of receiving means (2),taking account of a channel selection information item (C1S, C2S, C3S)which can be fed to them, and the received signal (S) is delivered bythe receiving means (2), and wherein the additional information item(AI) is extracted from the received signal (S) of the respectivelyselected channel (C1, C2, C3) with the aid of additional informationitem extraction means (3) and is delivered by the additional informationitem extraction means (3), and wherein channel selection means (6) areused a) to generate at least two channel selection information items(C1S, C2S, C3S) for the selection of at least two channels (C1, C2, C3),and b) to temporally successively deliver the at least two channelselection information items (C1S, C2S, C3S) to the receiving means (2),and c) to receive the additional information item (AI) respectivelyextracted and delivered by means of the additional information itemextraction means (3) in accordance with the respectively selectedchannel (C1, C2, C3), and d) using the additional information item (AI)respectively received in accordance with the respectively selectedchannel (C1, C2, C3), to determine the time-dependent occurrence of therespective final range (EA), and e) following the determination of thetime-dependent occurrence of the respective final ranges (EA) of thesignal sections (SP) in at least two channels (C1, C2, C3), to generateand deliver that channel selection information item (C1S, C2S, C3S)which can be used to select that channel (C1, C2, C3) in which thesignal section (SP) with the temporally next final range (EA) occurs. 8.A channel selection method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the channelselection means (6) are used to select, within a selection time domain(SD) in which the time-dependent occurrence of the temporally next finalrange (EA) is located, the channel (C1, C2, C3) in which the signalsection (SP) with the temporally next final range (EA) occurs.
 9. Achannel selection method as claimed in claim 7, wherein, using theadditional information item (AI) representing a remaining residualduration of the respective signal section (SP), the time-dependentoccurrence of the final range (EA) of the respective signal section (SP)is determined with the aid of the channel selection means (6).
 10. Achannel selection method as claimed in claim 7, wherein storage means(9), which interact with the channel selection means (6), are used tostore parameters (CV1, CV2, CV3), which parameters (CV1, CV2, CV3) aresignificant for the time-dependent occurrence of the respective finalrange (EA) of the signal sections (SP) received via each channel (C1,C2, C3).
 11. A channel selection method as claimed in claim 10, whereinthe storage means (9) are used to store a channel data information item(CD1, CD2, CD3) which corresponds to the respective parameter (CV1, CV2,CV3), which channel data information item (CD1, CD2, CD3) is providedfor indicating the respective channel (C1, C2, C3).
 12. A channelselection method as claimed in claim 7, wherein comparison means (4) areused to compare a desired content information item (WI) that can be fedto the arrangement (1) with a content information item (CI) that iscontained in the additional information item (AI) in the signal section(SP) and that represents the content of the useful information item (UI)in the signal section (SP), and to deliver a comparison information item(EI) to the channel selection means (6), said comparison informationitem indicating the correspondence between the content information item(CI) and the desired content information item (WI), and wherein thechannel selection means (6) are used, after the comparison informationitem (EI) has been received, to retain the channel (C1, C2, C3) selectedin accordance with the temporally next final range (EA).